Harry Reid says he thinks the White House should be more involved in the budget debate. |
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In an interview, Conrad didn’t deny his comments but downplayed the disagreements, saying that he understood why the White House was taking its quiet approach. Conrad said if the White House came out and proactively pushed a plan, there would be “knee-jerk opposition” from the GOP.

“If they go first, the House Republicans – as poisoned as the atmosphere is there – would just use it as an opportunity to attack the position,” he said. “I understand why [White House officials] are doing what they’re doing, and they may well be right.”

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The White House, of course, faces a tricky political situation. The administration doesn’t want to get steamrolled by the GOP by putting forth its own proposal only to see it dramatically changed. At the same time, the White House wants bipartisan buy-in from their adversaries – and is also wary of irking members of its own party who want to see their ideas included in a final bill.

The careful positioning was on display at the White House Tuesday, where spokesman Jay Carney wouldn’t detail what the administration’s bottom-line is on spending legislation for the rest of the fiscal year, which ends Sept. 30.

Carney said the administration is “obviously engaged at various levels, including at the presidential level,” referring to a 10-12 minute phone call between Obama and House Speaker John Boehner earlier Tuesday. “We believe some progress has been made. We believe that there is a focus in Congress now on cuts that we all can agree on. The president, as you know, is committed to reducing spending. As he made clear with his 2012 budget proposal and as he has made clear in these negotiations on the continuing resolution that he is committed to spending cuts. We can agree on those.”

Like many Senate Democrats, Carney raised concerns about pushing forward repeated two-week continuing resolutions, saying that a long-term bipartisan deal is the goal in the end.

“So without getting into what is acceptable or unacceptable, our goal here is that we get a continuing resolution that is clean, that deals with the spending cuts we can agree on,” Carney said.

The White House jumped into the fray last night by floating the idea of extending funding levels for 30 days in order to buy more time for a longer-term deal, but Republicans rejected that approach and pushed forward their two-week stop-gap resolution Tuesday.

If they are forced to pass another two-week extension when the current proposal runs out, Democrats could face another round of politically treacherous votes and internal sniping. But at that point, Democrats hope, the White House will become more actively engaged to lead their party in the next round over spending.

“Well, he’s going to become more engaged, as he’s indicated he will — and I know he will,” Reid said, referring to Obama. “He has — he has the bully pulpit in the White House which is very important.”

LOL..You must be kidding. The only thing Mr Obama can lead on is picking his pretty new social secretary, have you seen him, the prettyist man I've ever seen..Now we will never get input from Obama he'll be to busy with Mr pretty social secretary.

Democrats: "Barack Obama must lead on budget"....LAUGHING MY *** OFF !!!...Good luck dems.....this man has never led in his life and is not about to start....everytime he says something without the script he puts his foot in his mouth. His puppeteer will not allow it.

Wow, even his own party recognizes he isn't leading. Time to put on the big boy pants and address the deficit, jobs, and the economy. The vacations, golfing, date nights, parties, basketball games, ice cream, and concerts have to end. These problems can't be fixed with speeches. Hope is not a plan.

Democrats could face another round of politically treacherous votes and internal sniping. But at that point, Democrats hope, the White House will become more actively engaged to lead their party in the next round over spending.

“Well, he’s going to become more engaged, as he’s indicated he will — and I know he will,” Reid said, referring to Obama. “He has — he has the bully pulpit in the White House which is very important.”

Poor dems...... they have to BEG obama to lead. Good luck with that! hee hee hee